{"id":8499,"date":"2016-12-17T14:01:52","date_gmt":"2016-12-17T19:01:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=8499"},"modified":"2021-03-20T15:53:01","modified_gmt":"2021-03-20T19:53:01","slug":"arizona-cardinals-stumble-week-15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2016\/12\/17\/arizona-cardinals-stumble-week-15\/","title":{"rendered":"Arizona Cardinals Stumble Into Week 15"},"content":{"rendered":"

So much has happened with the Arizona Cardinals<\/strong> this week, from one day to the next, that sports analysts can hardly keep up. Because of mounting injuries, as well as prominent\u00a0players being released, the Cardinals have had to make necessary changes to their 53-man roster. Is it too little too late? Maybe so, but the changes made were necessary and should make a positive impact on the team going forward.<\/p>\n

This weekend, the Cardinals (5-7-1) are taking on the New Orleans Saints<\/strong>. The Saints (5-8) are coming into the hostile environment that is University of Phoenix Stadium with a chip on their shoulders from last week\u2019s 16-11 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/strong>. The Cardinals are very familiar with \u201cchips\u201d and with losses. Defeating the Saints on Sunday will do a lot to ease some of the pains the team and the fans have had to endure over the season. Game time on Sunday is 2:05pm MST on FOX.<\/p>\n

Arizona Cardinals Stumble Into Week 15<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cWhen things are not going the way you expected or hoped it would go, it does feel not only worse on the body bit it fells like the season is longer,\u201d said wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald<\/strong>. \u201cI remember last year, I woke up and we were in the playoffs. It was like it was fast forward the whole season. I guess that\u2019s how it goes when you are having fun and enjoying it and things are kind of clicking.\u201d<\/p>\n

Getting Caught Up With The Team<\/h3>\n

In case you haven\u2019t heard, stemming from the DUI arrest early Monday morning, wide receiver Michael Floyd<\/strong> has been released from the team. Sources have confirmed that the decision to release Floyd was unanimous. Making the decision included team president Michael Bidwill<\/strong>, general manager Steve Keim<\/strong>, and head coach Bruce Arians<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The feelings in the locker room were not as unanimous, per se, as those from the organization. Drafted out of Notre Dame<\/strong> in the first round of the 2012 draft, Floyd has been a member of the Cardinals team for the past four years. Fellow teammates who are also close friends of the wide receiver were shocked and surprised mostly by Floyd\u2019s release.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a tough day,\u201d quarterback Carson Palmer<\/strong> stated, shortly after hearing the news of Floyd\u2019s release. \u201cMike\u2019s a close friend of mine, off-season golfing buddy, workout partner, so it\u2019s tough. I believe in Mike. I hope for nothing but the best for Mike, and look forward to seeing what he does with the next opportunity he gets.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seemingly, the Cardinals releasing Floyd could turn out to be more of a gift for the struggling receiver, than an actual punishment. It was only a matter of hours before he was picked up off of waivers by the New England Patriots<\/strong>. The Patriots at 11-2 are a definite shoe-in when it comes to making the playoffs.<\/p>\n

Other Team Changes<\/h3>\n

After releasing punter Drew Butler<\/strong> on Tuesday, the Cardinals went ahead and signed punter Matt Wile<\/strong> and back-up quarterback Zak Dysert<\/strong> from the practice squad. Linebacker Scooby Wright III<\/strong> was signed by the team from the Cleveland Browns<\/strong> practice squad. Also, the Cardinals have signed wide receiver Jeremy Ross<\/strong> to the roster to aid in replacing Floyd.<\/p>\n

Cornerback\/Safety Tyrann Mathieu<\/strong> (nagging dislocated shoulder injury) is expected to play on Sunday against the Saints.<\/p>\n

Speaking of the Saints<\/h3>\n

The New Orleans Saints are seeing their own fair share of struggles this season, but don\u2019t count them out. This match up is equally important for both teams having disappointing seasons. The Saints are expecting to leave Glendale, AZ with a victory and maybe on the plane ride back to Lousiana, sipping wine, with a great story of how they beat up on the stumbling Redbirds in their own stadium. How embarrassing this would be. The Cardinals need to make sure this doesn\u2019t happen.<\/p>\n

Keys to the Game<\/h2>\n

The Pass Defense<\/h3>\n

Drew Brees<\/strong> is one of the top quarterbacks in the league. With wide receivers Mike Thomas<\/strong> and Brandon Cooks<\/strong>, Brees has a very good supply of available options. It will be up to the Cardinals defense to pressure the pass-heavy quarterback and assure his passes amount to nothing but interceptions. The Buccaneers were very successful with this approach last Sunday, allowing zero touchdowns and grabbing three picks. The Cardinals would be wise to follow this design.<\/p>\n

Defense Against The Run<\/h3>\n

When it comes to run defense, the Cardinals are among the best teams in the league. They need to bring whatever got them to this status against the Saints. The Saints have an awesome one-two-punch tandem going with veteran running backs Mark Ingram<\/strong> and Timmy Hightower<\/strong>. Hightower was drafted by the Cardinals in the 2008 NFL Draft<\/strong> and was with the team for three years before being traded to the Washington Redskins<\/strong>. Hightower is injury prone, but he\u2019ll be healthy and looking for redemption on Sunday when he visits his old team.<\/p>\n

Special Teams<\/h3>\n

The biggest thorn in the side of the Cardinals is the poor performance of special teams. Releasing Butler from the team can only assist going forward, but kicker Chandler Catanzaro<\/strong> has missed crucial field goals in at least four close games this season. Points and opportunities add up, especially when they are missed. Stumbling along, the Cardinals need to assure that this issue has finally been rectified, before it costs them any more games.<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n